Melodic Rock Questions FOR "KIMBALL/JAMISON" CD

 

To Bobby: So let's start at the beginning, how did the whole Kimball/Jamison union come about?

Jimi and I have been working together for over 25 years, and we've been discussing doing a CD together for many years. However, both of us were always busy touring, or writing and recording our own Solo projects. We got an offer from Frontiers Records to do a "Duet CD" called "Kimball/Jamison", and that was our opportunity to get together and record a CD finally

 

To Jimi: The album boasts a host of great songwriters, but how did you decide who'd sing lead on what songs and were there any songs you both wanted to do?

BOBBY AND I HAVE SUNG TOGETHER SO MUCH IT WAS ALMOST AUTOMATIC DECIDING WHO WOULD SING WHICH PARTS. HE HAS THAT UNMISTAKABLE AND POWERFUL SOUND THAT EVERYONE RECOGNIZES RIGHT AWAY. I TOOK A LOT THE LOWER PARTS FOR WANT OF A BETTER COMPARISON - KIND OF LIKE THE ROCK "RIgHTOUS BROTHERS"!

 

To Bobby: With two well-known vocalists like yourselves, how easy did you find working together?

As a matter of fact, it was probably the easiest, and most fun CD I've ever worked on, because Jimi and I are very good friends, and there were no "Ego problems" involved with getting the job done. It was only fun, and I look forward to working with Jimi in the studio again as soon as possible.

 

To Jimi: The album was produced by Mat Sinner, was he a hard task master or did you all agree what you wanted from the album?

MAT IS A BRILLIANT PRODUCER. HE'S NOT A HARD TASKMASTER BUT HE DOES EXPECT THE BEST YOU HAVE TO GIVE. HE IS THE KIND OF PRODUCER WHO SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO GET MORE OUT OF AN ARTIST THAN THE ARTIST KNOWS HE HAS.

 

To Bobby: Who's idea was it to put together the making of the album DVD?

That was part of the contract we signed with Frontiers. We agreed to do all of the promotion possible, to support the CD, and I thought it was a good idea to film "The Making of The CD".

 

To Jimi: By having two singers from very well known bands, how important was it to make this album different from the bands you're both better known for?

WE ALL AGREED THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO HAVE SONGS THAT DO NOT SOUND EXACTLY LIKE TOTO OR SURVIVOR. NATURALLY THE VOICES WILL AUTOMATICALLY GIVE YOU A TASTE OF THE ORIGINAL SOUND OF BOTH BANDS, THE NEW SONGS LET US STRETCH OUT A LITTLE MORE VOCALLY.

 

To Bobby: Do you ever see this as a touring band or is it just a studio project at the moment?

Jimi and I have just done a tour in Germany together, and one of the concerts was the "125th Anniversary of Mercedes Benz" for 11,000 people. Another was a live performance on a very big radio/TV Network. We performed two of the songs from the new CD, and within 2 days, one of the songs was in heavy rotation on the radio, and within4 days, it was in the charts. I guess they liked the CD a lot.

 

To Jimi: Are there any songs on the album that you're particularly proud of, if so why?

SAIL AWAY IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES. I'M A BIG FAN OF RICHARD PAGE'S WRITING AND VOCAL STYLE.

 

To Bobby: After hearing the album for the first time did you wonder why you haven't done this before now?

After hearing the CD for a couple of times, I fell in love with the songs, and production, and our vocal parts. I feel we should have done this kind of project many years ago.

 

To Jimi: Will this be the first of many collaborations?

BOBBY AND I THINK WE HAVE JUST REACHED THE EDGE OF WHERE WE COULD TAKE THIS. IN A WAY ITS AN EXPERIMENT THAT WE ALREADY KNEW WOULD WORK LIVE AND CONFIDENT THAT IT WOULD WORK IN THE STUDIO… WHICH IT DID. WE WILL FOR SURE KEEP WORKING TOGETHER PERFORMING LIVE AND IN THE STUDIO ALSO. IF YOU MEAN WILL WE BE DOING THIS KIND OF PROJECT WITH DIFFERENT ARTISTS IN THE FUTURE… IT'S A LITTLE EARLY TO THINK ABOUT THAT AT THIS POINT. WE'RE CONCENTRATING ON WHAT WE DOING NOW.

 

To Bobby: Apart from the prospect of a second album, what does the future hold for Bobby Kimball and Jimi Jamison?

The prospect of another Kimball/Jamison CD is very strong, but both Jim and I are working on several Solo CDs. I have been working on one for 8 years, and couldn't get into the studio with the right players because I was touring, recording with other friends, or just too busy to find the time to finish this CD. I love it more than anything I've ever done, and I can't wait to finish the last 2 songs and release my Solo CD that will define what I love about music. I'm sure Jimi is about in the same position, because he's working on 3 Solo CDs right now.